Broun, Kenneth S.

English

University of North Carolina School of Law

NORTH CAROLINA LAW REVIEWVolume 89 | Number 1 Article 412-1-2010Memorial to Bob ByrdKenneth S. BrounFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.unc.edu/nclrPart of the Law CommonsThis Comments is brought to you for free and open access by Carolina Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NorthCarolina Law Review by an authorized administrator of Carolina Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contactlaw_repository@unc.edu.Recommended CitationKenneth S. Broun, Memorial to Bob Byrd, 89 N.C. L. Rev. 19 (2010).Available at: http://scholarship.law.unc.edu/nclr/vol89/iss1/4MEMORIAL TO BOB BYRD*KENNETH S. BROUN*In April, 2010, the University of North Carolina School of Lawlost one of the finest teachers and most valued colleagues in its longhistory. Robert G. "Bob" Byrd was a productive, distinguishedmember of our faculty for forty-five years. In addition to his superbteaching, scholarship and service to the state of North Carolina andthe University, he led this law school for five critical years as its deanfrom 1974 to 1979.As the law faculty at UNC grew and diversified, Bob Byrd wasone of only a handful of native North Carolinians and graduates ofthe institution on the faculty. He brought to the school all that is goodabout the best people of this state. He was innovative, yet careful;tolerant of others, yet proud of his own heritage; friendly, yet willingto challenge when challenge was needed; and, above all, patient andloyal to things he held in high regard.Law students-from the earliest days of his teaching through hisreturn to the faculty to teach torts after his formal retirement-consistently viewed him as one of the best teachers they had ever had.He won the Frederick B. McCall Teaching Award in 1969-just a fewyears after beginning his career. His colleagues recognized hisexcellence in 2009 by naming a new award for him. The Robert G.Byrd Award is awarded by the law school faculty to a UNC lawfaculty member for outstanding teaching in the first year curriculum,in small classes or clinical settings, or who exhibits an especiallyvigorous and creative classroom approach. The award is an especiallyfitting one to be named for Bob. No teacher has ever dealt withcomplex first year matter-in his case, the law of torts-with greaterclarity while maintaining an appreciation for the depth and subtlety ofwhat he was teaching. His examination questions were remarkable:no law teacher has ever crammed as many challenging issues intosuch short statements of fact.His research into important questions related to the law of tortswas focused, appropriately, on North Carolina issues. He wantedmost of all to make an impact on the law of this state and therefore* @ 2010 Kenneth S. Broun.** Henry Brandis Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law.NORTH CAROLINA LAW REVIEWpublished predominantly in the North Carolina Law Review. ' BobByrd became the definitive voice on North Carolina treatment ofnegligence, proximate cause, actual cause, strict liability, maliciousprosecution, tort reform, and other key torts issues. His writing wasfluid and his analysis insightful.Bob Byrd's public service was also devoted to the state of NorthCarolina and to its University, both of which he loved dearly. Perhapsmost importantly, he served on the North Carolina General StatutesCommission-reviewing important proposed legislation-for morethan two decades. He also served on the Legislative StudyCommissions on the Rules of Evidence and Comparative Negligence.He chaired the Governor's Brown Lung Study Commission from1979 to 1980. He freely gave advice to state administrators andagencies on a variety of issues.His service to his University was equally remarkable. Perhaps hisgreatest legacy to the University was his work as a member of thefaculty Committee on Student Conduct, beginning in 1974. As amember of that committee, he largely rewrote the current HonorCode and Code of Student Conduct under which generations of UNCstudents have governed themselves. He mentored hundreds ofstudents who served on the honor court and the student attorneygeneral's staff. Most importantly, he was a model of academic andpersonal integrity for the future leaders of the state. Other significantUniversity activities included work as a frequent consultant to UNCHospitals and the Division of Health Affairs on issues of humanresearch review and psychiatric standards. Before joining the lawfaculty, Bob served as an assistant director of the UNC Institute ofGovernment.Bob's service went beyond the state of North Carolina. After hisgraduation from UNC School of Law in 1957, he served his countryfor three years as a first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General'sCorps as a trial and defense counsel. He continued his service formany years as an active member of the North Carolina NationalGuard, serving as commander of the Selective Service Unit. Thosewho served with him remember him as one of the most respectedofficers in the National Guard. He reached the rank of colonel.1. Examples of his articles include: Robert G. Byrd, Misrepresentation in NorthCarolina, 70 N.C. L. REV. 323 (1992); Robert G. Byrd, The North Carolina MedicalMalpractice Statute, 62 N.C. L. REv. 711 (1984); Robert G. Byrd, Recovery for MentalAnguish in North Carolina, 58 N.C. L. REV. 435 (1980); Robert G. Byrd & Dan B. Dobbs,Survey of North Carolina Case Law: Torts, 43 N.C. L. REV. 906 (1965).20 [Vol. 89BOB BYRDIn recognition of his outstanding teaching, research and service,Bob Byrd was named the Burton Craige Professor of Law in 1979-atitle he held until his death.Long-time law faculty and many alumni will remember Bob bestfor his time as dean. The mid-1970s were an especially significant timefor the law school. New and diverse faculty members had been hiredunder the outstanding leadership of Dickson Phillips, who served asdean from 1964 to 1974. Bob Byrd took over from him as the lawschool was emerging from its traditional role as a fine state andregional school to a national academic powerhouse. Bob sought tokeep the school on a steady course, to maintain the sound academicand service values it had always had while making sure that itsnational reputation would grow. He also fully recognized that growthas an academic institution would not be possible without a significantinflux of private funds. He greatly boosted the fundraisinginfrastructure and enhanced the school's relationship with its alumni.Bob also sought to maintain faculty and student standards. At times,his approach was challenged by faculty colleagues who wanted fastermovement up the national rankings than was realistic. His responsewas invariably wise, gentle and thoughtful. What carried him to greatsuccess in his deanship, though, was not only his own considerablewisdom and ability, but a deep sense of institutional loyalty. Bob'sonly concern was the welfare of the institution.We will very much miss Bob Byrd on this faculty, at thisUniversity, and in the state. But his life and career have given all of usa great deal. We can only be thankful for having him here for morethan forty-five years.2010] 21flv

Memorial to Bob Byrd

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Memorial to Bob Byrd

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